Windshield cleaner



April 1947- A. c. SCINTA WINDSHIELD CLEANER Filed June 19, 1943 i INVENTOR. ANTHONY C. SCINT'A' BY Patented Apr. 8, 1947 WINDSHIELDI' CLEANER Anthony C. Scinta, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Trico Products Corporation, Bufialo, N. Y.

. Application .lune 19, 1943, Serial No. 491,433

This invention relates to a windshield cleaner and. primarily to a wiper of the self-normalizing type wherein the wiper restores ontends to restore itself substantially to an upright position on the glass when not in use.

The object of the present invention is to provide a wiper in which the normalizing action is practical and efiicient.

' A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of this type wherein the normalizing means are effectively housed and protected against Weather as well as against being tampered with after having once been fabricated, according to factory specification.

The invention further has for its object to provide a wiperof simple and durable construction and which will function in'a manner tending to increase the period of usefulness of the wiper.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a windshield cleaner embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view,. partly in section, more clearly illustrating the mode of attachment for the wiper; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view about on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the wiper mounting attachment, with the wiperbody being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the mounting attachment with the wiper body depicted in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the normalizing spring; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified wiper body, with. a portion of the anchoring shank being in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates the actuating armand 2 the driving shaft of a windshield cleaner by which the wiper or blade is oscillated on the windshield.

According to the present invention the wiper body is provided with normalizing mounting attachment by which the wiper is brought or urged i to a substantially upright position on the windshield during periods of non-use.---This mounting attachment as illustrated comprises an arm at-.

vide a surface upon which the wiper body may rock from side to side first upon one side marginal portion of the back wall 6 and then upon the oppositemargin thereof as depicted in Fig. 4. The

14 Claims. (01.15-250) attachment is provided with a depending shank 8 which passes downwardly through an opening 9 in the back wall 6 for interlocking with the latter to thereby secure the attachment against displacement from the wiper body as well as to provide a tension link through which a spring It may act for restoring said wiper body to its normally upright position on the windshield glass.

. The spring is preferably of the flat type and has a slot H to pass the shank, the latter having a retaining head in the form of overhanging shoulders 12 to support the bowed spring up against the underside of the back wall 6 which constitutes a top wall for the chamber I3 in the wiper body. This spring therefore places the link or shank under tension. The arm attaching member 4 and its shank 6 may be stamped from sheet metal and inserted upwardly through the opening 9 and also through a slot M in the base 5 where it is secured with a cross pin l5 inthe position determined by the cooperating internal shoulders 16 and I! on the base and shank, respectively. In operation, the wiper'is attached to the outer end of the arm 2 with the relatively heavy base 5 being firmly embraced by the ears 18 of the arm to thereby hold the mounting attachment against lateral play. The attaching part 4 is designed to be enaged in a slot 19 in the arm between the cars, such part being formed with an overhanging hook 20 to secure the interlocked parts together. A like hook 2| may be provided at the opposite end of the'fin-like attaching part 4 to permit reversal of the wiper on the arm. Asthe wiper'is oscillated back and forth byits arm. the wiperbody will rock upon the underfacc of the base 5 against theaction of the spring. The spring functions independently of the well knownflat spring 22 which provides the wiping pressure in the contact of the wiper on the glass. The side marginal portions of the'opposing walls or faces 6 and 1 constitute shoulders disposed on the opposite sides of the tension link or anchoring shank 8, the two pairs of cooperating shoulders acting in alternation as points of fulcrum for the wiper body. The

tension link further serves to tie together the several parts 5, 6. and H] in facilitating their assembly.

7 To permit the inner end of the wiper to lag be- The mounting attachment may be rendered adjustable by providing-the back wall 6 in an adjustable part, such as in the spring clip 24 which fits over and frictionally m races" the metal channel 25 for'the rubber wiping strip 26.

' This ccnstructionenables'the path of the wiper being shiftedb'yisimply sliding the 0118111181125 in the clip 24. When so constructed the attaching member and its spring l0 may be passedupwardly from within the clip and through the openingv 9 before the clip is placed over the squeegee 25, 26'.

the chamber 13. I

Theillustrated embodiment is practical and efilcient with the spring; 9 beingsfullyhoused and protected jfrom the-weather. ,The invention has been described with detail but with no intention thereby 'oflimiting the invention since the inventlve principles 'involve'd'th'erein are' 'c'apable of otherg physical embodiments without departing from the spirit-"of the invention or' its scopeas defined by the appended-claims;

Iclaim: 1. A wiper comprising'a body having a back portlonformed with an opening leadinginto a chamber, an arm attaching member protruding through the opening and having an anchoring shoulder Within the chamber, a spring-interposed between the shoulder and a part in the chamber and exerting an inward urge onthe member,

and'an arm engaging member carried by theat: taching member for holding the latter substan- Thereafter the wiperbody'closes shank to yieldably pull both lateral shoulders normally into full engagement with the-shoulder portions while permitting .the body to rock thereon from one shoulder to the other shoulder at 1 the start of successive Wiping strokes, the pressure ,froman engaged spring urged arm, be-

, ing transmitted directly to the wiper through one engaged" shoulder portion and its cooperating v, shoulderwhen in a rocked "position and thereby acting to urge both shoulder portions into 'full' engagement-with both shoulders, and means for connecting the arm engaging member to-a spring urged arm' in a substantiallyrigid manner.

4. Awiper comprisingja body having an exterior back wall with an openingtherein leading into achamber, an armengaging member normally seating on 'the wall at opposite sides of the open tially rigid'with the arm While permittingisaid wiper body .to rock laterially thereon against the urge of the spring, said body and-said arm engaging memberzhaving' opposing laterally extending shoulders atopposite sides of the protrud ing attaching member normallyin full and direct engagement at both sides under the resilient inward urge ofth'e springand alternately cooperating as points of fulcrum to support the spring under distortion'as thewiperbody portion rocks first onthe shoulders atone side and then on the shouldersat the opposite" side, of the attaching member and to restore the latter to its normal position. l. e

2. A wiper comprising abody. having a back wall with an opening therein flanked by lateral shoulders on opposite sides thereof, an arm engaging member having shoulder portions at opdownwardly through the wall opening, and a spring arranged at the underside oi the back walland exerting a pull on the shank to. yieldably hold both lateral. shoulders normally eningtherein and'rockable first on one side and then on; the other; saidie'ngaging member having an opening in registry with the wall opening. a flat spring within the chamber having alsoa re istry opening, and a .tie linkextending through. the registering openings and operatively co'nne'cting in tensionthe three parts to permit the body rocking laterally from a normal position on the member against theurge of the spring, said tie link being housedby saidconnected parts and having suflicient play movement. a l

5'..A wipergcomprising a, body having aback wall'withanopening therein leading. into a chamher, an arm engaging member seating on the wall. andhaving an opening in registry with the Wall-opening, a fiat spring within the chamber having also a registering opening, and a tieilink extending through the registering openings and operatively connecting the three parts to permit,

the'bodyrocking laterally from a neutral posl-'- tiononzthe member against the urge of the spring, the "link having an end projecting above the engagingmember and formed with meansior attachment to, an actuating arm whereby the tie link will constitute a common connector between posite sides of a dependingshank and overhanging the lateral shoulders, the shank" passing the three parts and the arm when attached'to the latter' s I 6. A wiper comprising a body having a back wall with an opening therein'leading into a chamber; anarm engagin member seating onthe wall and havin an opening in registry with the 1 wall opening, a flat spring within the chamber having also'a registering opening, a tielink extending through :the registeringv openings and operatively connecting thethree'parts to permit the-body rocking laterally from a neutral'position movement.

7. -A Wiper comprising a body having a back wall with an opening therein flanked by lateral shoulders on opposite sides thereof, an armengaging member having shoulder portions at opposite sides of a dependingshank and overhanging the lateral shoulders, the shank passing downwardly through the wall opening, a spring arranged at the underside'of the back wall between the latter and an underlying part on the on the member against the urge-of the spring,

land a 'pinpiercing both the engaging member and the link for securin the twoagainstrelative wall with an opening therein leading. into a chamber, an v arm engaging member seating on the wall and having an opening in registry/with the Wall opening, a flat spring within the chamber having also a registering openingQa tie link extending through the registering-openingsand operatively connecting the three, parts to permit thebody rocking laterally from a neutral position on the member against the urge of the spring, the link having a shoulder engaging a part on said member to determine the normal distortion of the spring, and means fixedly coupling the member to the link in the position determined by said shoulder.

8. A wiper comprising a body having a back wall with an opening therein leading into a chamto enable ,such rocking her, an arm engaging member seating on the wall and having an opening in registry with the wall opening, a flat spring within the chamber having also a registering opening, and a tie link extending through the registering openings and operatively connecting the three parts to permit the body rocking laterally from a neutral position on the member against the urge of the spring, the link having an end projecting above the engaging member in the formof a fin for entering a slot in an actuating arm, each end of the fin formed with a hook part for overhanging such arm to hold the Wiper in place and permit reversibility thereof.

9. A Wiper body having a chamber in its back portion with an opening leading thereinto between lateral shoulder parts, a self normalizing arm attaching member designed for rigid attachmerit. to an arm and having lateral shoulders seating squarely on the shoulder parts of the back portion with a shank part depending between the lateral shoulders and through the opening into the chamber with clearance to enable said wiper body pivoting first on the lateral shoulder at one side and then on the lateral shoulder at the opposite side of the shank part, and a spring within the chamber exerting an inward pull on the shank to restore the lateral shoulder parts in full seating engagement with the shoulders of said attaching member. 1

10. A wiper comprising a body having an exterior back face with opposite lateral marginal portions, an arm attaching member having a base normally in full seating contact with both lateral marginal portions of the face andsupporting said body for rocking movement first on one marginal portion and then upon the other marginal portion as points of fulcrum, the body havpart, and said blade bearing and said under face of the member coacting to assist said spring warly inclined position when being operated, and

ing an opening between said marginal portions,

and resilient means reacting in opposite directions on the arm carrying part and the wiperbody and including a tension part extending through the opening whereby to yieldably urge both marginal portions into full seating contact with the base for normalizing the wiper relative to an associated wiped surface.

11. In a reciprocatory windshield cleaner, 2. wiping blade having a relatively fixed transverse bearing across its back, a member having a transverse part with an under face on which the transverse bearing directly and rockably engages and through which the blade is urged into wiping contact with the windshield, said blade bearing and said under face of the member having wiper normalizing means resiliently acting on said parts to yieldably urge their flat faces together whereby to restore the, wiper to a position of rest normalto the cleaned surface, the normalizing means comprising a shank fixed to one part and slidably engaged with and extending into a chamber of the other part, and a spring in the chamber placing the shank under tension,

13. A Wiper comprising a body having a back wall with an opening therein leading into a chamber, an arm engaging member seating on the wall and having an opening in registry with the Wall opening, a flat spring within the chamber having also a registering opening, and a tie link extending through the registering openings and operatively connecting the three parts to permit the body rocking laterally from a neutral position on the member against the urge of the spring,

the link having an end projecting above the engaging member in the form of a fin for entering a slot in an actuating arm.

14. In a windshield cleaner, a wiper having a relatively fixed bearing on its back, a bearing part i superimposed directly upon the wiper bearing and supporting the Wiper for lateral rocking on the under surface of said bearing part, and wiper normalizing means resiliently acting to hold the wiper bearing in full engagement with the under surface of the bearing part, said normalizing means comprising a shank fixed to said bearing I part and projecting from said under surface and through an opening in the Wiper bearing into a chamber formed in the wiper, and aspring in the chamber placing the shank under tension to so hold the wiper bearing in such full engagement with the under surface of the bearing part, said shank b'eing housed and concealed within said bearing part and wiper.

ANTHONY C. SCINTA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,172,928 Anderson Sept. 12, 1939 1,971,893 Anderson Aug; 28, 1934 2,295,011 Rodrick Sept. 8, 1942 2,147,113 Smulski Feb. 14, 1939 2,234,791 Zaiger Mar, 11, 1941 2,264,167 Paulus Nov. 25 1941 

